Tornado Leaves 3 Dead
in its Wake; Damage Was Great. . . Mr. Polk and Two Williams Boys Lost Their
Lives Last Night. . . Mrs. Presson Seriously Hurt, Carried to Hospital Today,
Her Recovery Is Doubtful. . . Several Homes a Total Loss. . . Homes and Barns
Destroyed; Much Fine Timber Blown Down
Three persons are dead, one woman is seriously, perhaps
fatally, injured, a number of homes and barns are a total wreck, and thousands
of feet of fine timber were destroyed as a result of a cyclone which swept
parts of Monroe, Goose Creek and New Salem townships about 9 o’clock last
night.
The dead are:
Robert L. Polk, aged about 30 years; Aubrey Williams, aged
5, and his brother, Hilton Williams, aged 6. They are sons of Mr. and Mrs. D.L.
Williams, who live a few moles north of Unionville.
Mrs. Sam Presson, who was badly injured, is in serious
condition, and is not expected to live. She was carried to a Charlotte
hospital. Mrs. Presson was injured about the neck, waist and kidneys.
Among those injured are: R.W. Byrd, his son, Roy Byrd; and
Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Griffin, all of whom live in Goose Creek township. Others
were probably injured, but their names could not be learned today.
The cyclone was reported to have started about Bakers. It
swept through the southern part of Goose Creek township, missing Unionville by
about a mile and a half, through the edge of New Salem, on to Rocky River. Some
damage is reported from the Rocky River vicinity.
Both the school and church at Ebenezer are said to have been
destroyed, although it could not be ascertained to be a fact.
First Struck Polk’s
Home
From what could be learned today, the home of Mr. Robert L.
Polk, which is on the Secrest short cut
road, about six and a half miles from Monroe, was the first to be destroyed.
The house was picked up from its foundations and carried for a distance of
about 25 feet. The dead body of Mr. Polk was extricated from the timbers by
neighbors shortly after the destruction of his home. The body was badly
bruised, but not mutilated. In some miraculous manner, the wife of Mr. Polk and
his three children escaped. The deceased was about 30 years of age. Funeral
services over his remains were conducted this afternoon at the old Waxhaw
Baptist church.
The next home destroyed by the on-rushing tornado was that
of Mr. R.W. Byrd, who lives on the Concord road, a short distance from the point
where the road forks to Unionville. His home, barn and outbuildings were
totally wrecked; and Mr. Byrd and his young son, Roy Byrd, were both injured.
The former was cut and bruised about the head and face, while the latter was
cut on the leg. Mrs. Byrd and several children escaped injury.
When the house was picked up by the force of the wind, Roy
Byrd was thrown into the well, the curbing of which had been torn away.
Fortunately, he caught a timber before falling to the bottom. He was rescued by
neighbors, who arrived on the scene a short while afterwards. Mr. Byrd was
knocked unconscious by the falling timbers. A number of chickens were killed,
but his pigs, horses and cows were not hurt.
The next home destroyed by the tornado was that of Mr. Sam
Presson, who lives only a short distance from the home of Mr. Byrd. In addition
to the loss of his home, Mr. Presson suffered the loss of a good barn, a mule,
wagon, and other farming implements. Mrs. Presson was seriously injured, and is
not expected to live. A child was unearthed from a mass of timbers uninjured.
Mr. Presson’s loss is about $2,500.
Children Died
Together
The most pathetic incident of the havoc was the death of the
two little Williams boys, Aubrey and Hilton. They slept in the same bed, and
the tornado, which simply tore up their father’s home, threw heavy timbers
across their little bodies. Their stomachs were crushed in and it is thought
they died instantly. Six men were required to lift the timbers from their
bodies.
The two lads had attended the funeral of an infant cousin
the afternoon before they met their death. They were handsome, likable young
chaps, and the community is mourning their untimely death.
Mr. Williams’ store, which he conducted from the yard of his
home, was lifted from its pillars and carried for a distance of several feet.
Nothing in the store, however, was broken or destroyed.
Severe losses were also suffered by Mr. J.H. Griffin, who
lives in the same community with Messrs. Byrd and Presson. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Griffin were badly hurt; their home destroyed, and barns and outbuildings
totally demolished. His loss is around $2,000.
Mr. Arthur Pusser lost his barn, a mule and some timber. Mr.
Carl Griffin lost a tenant house,and from 50,000 to 70,000 feet of extra good
timber.
The home of Mr. Marcus Little, who is a bachelor, was
destroyed. His barns and outhouses suffered likewise from the force of the
tornado.
Mr. Caldwell Love’s barn was blown down, but his stock
escaped injury. The hay in the loft fell upon a mule, almost completely covering
him. The mule’s neighs and grunts attracted Mr. Love, who released him.
Rev. J.S. Simpson and Mr. H.C. Simpson had about 100,000
feet of fine timber blown down. Mr. David A. Simpson lost about 5,000 feet.
An unconfirmed report was received at Monroe this morning stating
that several people were killed in Stanly county, across Rocky River. It is
believed, however, that the report is erroneous.
Mr. R.W. Byrd was the only sufferer, so far as is known, who
carried tornado insurance. His loss is about $2,000, with about one-fourth that
amount of insurance.
Several families lost most all they had, but their neighbors
are assisting them in rebuilding.
Carriker school house and Mr. Mendenhall Helms’ barn, it was
reported in Monroe, were destroyed.
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